Sushant Singh Rajput's ex Ankita Lokhande credits late actor for her acting career; here's why

Ankita Lokhande on Saturday marked her 15th year in the entertainment industry by paying tribute to her debut show, 'Pavitra Rishta', and her late co-star Sushant Singh Rajput. The show, which aired from June 2009 to October 2014, saw Ankita in the role of Archana, with Sushant playing Manav. It quickly became one of the top-rated Hindi television programs, cementing both actors as household names.

Ankita Lokhande's Instagram Post For Sushant Singh Rajput

To commemorate the milestone, Ankita shared a montage of scenes from the show on Instagram along with a touching note. "15 years ago, I started my journey as Archana in Pavitra Rishta. Little did I know that even after years, I would continue to receive so much love for my role, which has become my identity," she wrote. Ankita also expressed her gratitude to Ekta Kapoor and Balaji Telefilms for giving her the opportunity to play such a significant role early in her career.

Ankita took a moment to acknowledge the invaluable support she received from Sushant Singh Rajput, who passed away in 2020. "My journey wouldn’t be complete without Sushant's support. I didn’t even know how to act when I started Pavitra Rishta. He taught me, and I will always be thankful for him," she shared. She highlighted the unique storytelling of 'Pavitra Rishta', which brought Marathi culture to Hindi television and resonated with audiences for its innocence and authenticity.



Ankita's post also included a tribute to the on-screen couple, Archana and Manav. "It’s not just 15 years of Archana, it’s also 15 years of Archana and Manav, a couple who personified love, marriage, understanding, and companionship. They’re what we call 'goals'," she wrote. She emphasized that the magic they created was due to the trust and love from their audience and Ekta Kapoor’s vision.

Ankita Lokhande's Career

After her success on the small screen, Ankita participated in 'Jhalak Dikhhla Jaa 4' and 'Comedy Circus Ka Naya Daur', and appeared in 'Ek Thhi Naayka'. She reprised her role as Archana in the web series 'Pavitra Rishta: It's Never Too Late' alongside Shaheer Sheikh from 2021 to 2022. Ankita, along with her husband Vicky Jain, won the reality show 'Smart Jodi' in February 2022 and participated in 'Bigg Boss 17' in 2023, finishing as the third runner-up.

Ankita made her film debut with Kangana Ranaut's 'Manikarnika: The Queen of Jhansi' in 2019, followed by a role in Baaghi 3 in 2020. Her latest film, 'Swatantrya Veer Savarkar', features her alongside Randeep Hooda.

Sushant's Bollywood Journey

Sushant Singh Rajput's career also soared after Pavitra Rishta. He made his Bollywood debut with 'Kai Po Che!' in 2013 and went on to star in successful films like 'Shuddh Desi Romance', 'PK', 'MS Dhoni: The Untold Story', and 'Chhichhore'. His final film, 'Dil Bechara', was released posthumously on Disney Plus Hotstar, leaving a lasting legacy in the industry.